Motivational interviewing and qualitative interviewing were compared to generate strategies for improving caregiver health and well-being. Motivational interviewing elicited specific goals and steps to accomplish them, while qualitative interviewing elicited functional and desired occupations. Both styles provided useful information but in different ways. Caregivers desired time for activities like writing, exploring the library, and partner respite. They set health goals around diet and exercise but lacked confidence and priority due to caregiving demands. The interview styles were effective for tailoring wellness programs to caregiver needs and constraints.

1. Interviewing Methods for Improving Health and Well-being for
Caregivers of Children with Autism
Brenna Patterson, Kayla Larsen, and Beth Larson, Ph.D., OTR
Occupational Therapy Program, Department of Kinesiology ~ University of Wisconsin-Madison
Method
Purpose
Background
ResultsConclusionIntroduction
Acknowledgments
A special thanks to Dr. Larson for her assistance and guidance, to
our participants for sharing their experiences, and to our research
team for their collaboration and support.
• Compare differences between two interviewing styles to
generate data for the development of a user-friendly wellness
program for caregivers of children with autism.
• Specifically, what kinds of activities & strategies for lifestyle
change are generated via motivational interviewing versus
qualitative interviewing for caregivers of children with autism?
Caregivers of children with autism often experience symptoms of depression
and anxiety due to increased stress (Boyd, 2002). They spend less time
participating in leisure activities and more time in caregiving (Smith et al, 2009).
This caregiving often feels overwhelming and diminishes well-being (Larson,
2010). Yet, caregivers may not feel they have the time or energy to participate
in wellness programs. Thus intervention programs need to be carefully tailored
to the constraints, motivations, and desires of caregivers. Motivational
interviewing has been shown to be an effective interpersonal intervention that
bridges the discrepancy between desired behaviors and actual behaviors.
Participants
Procedures
Data Analysis
• Secondary analysis of interview data from two studies
• Each verbatim transcript was read to establish content and then
coded using a constant comparative method by research team.
• Expert debriefing
• Codes were reviewed, revised, and collapsed to create
categories with an expert review.
References
Boyd, B. A. (2002). Examining the Relationship Between Stress and Lack of Social
Support in Mothers of Children with Autism. Focus On Autism & Other Developmental
Disabilities, 17 (4), 208.
Larson, E. (2010). Psychological well-being and meaning-making when caregiving for
children with disabilities: growth through difficult times or sinking inward. OTJR:
Occupation, Participation & Health, 30(2), 78-86. doi:10.3928/15394492-20100325-03
Smith, L., Hong, J., Seltzer, M., Greenberg, J., Almeida, D., & Bishop, S. (2010). Daily
experiences among mothers of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorder.
Journal Of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 40(2), 167-178. doi:10.1007/s10803-
009-0844-y
• Quantitative interviewing elicits information about occupations that are functional
along with future desired occupations.
• Motivational interviewing elicits specific goals & explores possible steps to
accomplish goals.
• These interview styles elicit different information but both are purposeful when
used with caregivers working towards improving health and well-being.
Limitations
• Change in interviewer
• Change in participants over time
• 3 female married caregivers ages 44-51 years of age participated
in 2 studies of caregiver well-being
• Education ranging from bachelor to clinical doctorate degree
• 2 employed full-time in paid work; one part-time
• Income range: $50,000- $100,000
• Child with autism: ages 7-16 years old
• 1st study used qualitative interview style to elicit information
about stress management.*
• 2nd study used motivational interviews to elicit caregiver’s
goals identified to improve their health & well-being.*
• “One of the biggest things is having time to pursue one of the things that
I enjoy pursuing.”
• “I’m lucky to have a husband, a partner, who you know I will just go. …
So I have that built in respite as does he.”
How do you take care of your
health and well-being?
Physical, mental or both?
[QI]
• “Its that funny phrase, from the airlines, you know, you take your own
oxygen before you can put the oxygen on the person you’re caring for
because if you don’t have that oxygen you can’t take care of them.”
• “Its going to the library and wandering around for awhile…and um just
stepping back.”
What are your best strategies
for managing the competing
demands of caregiving and
the need to take care of your
own health and well-being?
[QI]
• Healthy Eating: “I’m a lifetime Weight Watchers person who is not very
successful at it. I won’t give up ever. So it is always on my plate.”
• Writing: “I put writing at the top because that’s really something that I’m
going to do and that’s my thing.”
So, tell me about [desired
future goal]. Why did you pick
that one?
[MI]
• “ Umm I’m going to say 8 because I really, really want to do that.”
• “0 because they’ve never been brought up that way, neither parent
exercises & I have so many better things to do.”
How confident are you that
you can make this change?
On a scale of 0, being not
confident, and 10, being very
confident.
[MI]
“It’s not that I don’t know
what to do. I do know what
to do, but sometimes it just
becomes the last priority.”
Life Work
Increasing Quality
of Life in Home
Increasing
Quality of Life
in Community
School & Work Schedule, Household Management
Healthy Eating, Exercising, Reading,
Reflection, Creative time
Change in Career,
Social Engagements